Vietnam Work Visa and Work Permit 2026: Step-by-Step for Foreign Employees
By VietnamVisaEasy Visa Team · 2026-11-11
Vietnam's work permit rules changed in August 2025, and the fines changed again in September 2026. This guide walks through each step in order: whether you need a permit, which documents your employer needs, how long it takes, which visa to hold and what happens if you skip a step.
| At a glance | Vietnam work permit, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Main rule | Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, in force since August 7, 2025 |
| Who applies | Your employer, at the provincial public administration service centre |
| When to file | No more than 60 and no less than 10 days before your start date |
| Official processing time | 10 working days for a permit, 5 working days for an exemption confirmation |
| Maximum validity | 2 years, extendable once for up to 2 more years |
| Working on an e-visa | Not allowed. You need a permit or exemption and the right visa |
Do you need a work permit to work in Vietnam?
Yes, unless you fall into one of the exemption cases. The Labour Code requires foreign employees to hold a work permit, and Decree 219/2025/ND-CP sets out how it works. The decree replaced the foreign-worker rules in Decree 152/2020 and Decree 70/2023 from August 7, 2025.
A permit is issued for a specific employer, job position and work location. It is only available for four kinds of roles, and each has its own experience test:
| Role under Decree 219 | Basic requirement (Article 3) |
|---|---|
| Manager | A company manager under the Enterprise Law, or the head or deputy head of an organisation |
| Executive director | Head of a branch, representative office or business location, or head of a field with at least 3 years' relevant experience |
| Expert | A university degree and at least 2 years' relevant experience. Only 1 year for finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and other priority fields |
| Technical worker | At least 1 year of training and 2 years' experience, or at least 3 years' experience |
If your job doesn't fit one of these four roles, a permit is unlikely.
Who is exempt from a Vietnam work permit?
Several groups are exempt, but most still need a paper confirming the exemption. Article 7 of Decree 219 lists the cases. Being exempt doesn't mean you can just start work. Your employer usually has to get an exemption confirmation, or at least notify the authority.
| Exempt case (examples) | Exemption confirmation needed? |
|---|---|
| Owner or capital contributor of a limited liability company with VND 3 billion or more | No, notification only |
| Chair or board member of a joint-stock company with VND 3 billion or more | No, notification only |
| Manager, executive, expert or technical worker working under 90 days in a calendar year | No, notification only |
| Foreigner married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam | No, notification only |
| Intra-company transferee in one of 11 WTO service sectors, hired by the parent at least 12 months before | Yes |
| Staff confirmed by a ministry or province for finance, science, technology, innovation or digital transformation | Yes |
| Students on an internship agreed with their school | Yes |
For the "notification only" cases, the employer must inform the authority at least 3 working days before you start. The notice includes your name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, work location and working period. An exemption confirmation, where needed, follows the same 10–60 day filing window and has a 5-working-day decision time.
Warning: the 90-day exemption is per calendar year, not per trip. It counts total working days from January 1 to December 31. Several short assignments can add up past 90 days, and then a full permit is needed. It also applies only to managers, executives, experts and technical workers, so it's not a general "short job" loophole.
What documents does your employer need?
Your employer needs a demand report, your health certificate, passport, criminal record check, photos and proof of your role. Article 18 of Decree 219 sets the list. The demand report replaces the separate approval step that existed under the old rules, so the employer now explains why it needs a foreign worker in the same file.
| Document | Key rule | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Employer's demand report and application (Form 03) | Explains the job and why a foreigner is needed | Job title doesn't match your degree or experience |
| Health certificate | From a qualified clinic. A foreign one only if Vietnam recognises it, and no older than 12 months | Foreign certificate not accepted |
| Valid passport | Must be valid for the whole process | Too little validity left for a 2-year permit |
| Criminal record check | Issued no more than 6 months before filing | Expires while other papers are being legalised |
| Two colour photos | 4 × 6 cm, white background, no glasses | Rarely a problem |
| Proof of role | Degree, experience letters or appointment papers (Article 19) | Experience letters without dates or job details |
Foreign documents must be consularly legalised, unless a treaty exempts them, and then translated into Vietnamese and certified (Article 5). This is often the slowest part. Start collecting your degree, experience letters and police certificate several weeks before your employer plans to file.
A work permit is usually rejected on paperwork, not on merit. A degree that doesn't match the job title, or an experience letter with no dates, causes more delays than anything else.
Not sure whether you need a permit, an exemption or just a business visa for meetings? Send us your job title, trip length and nationality on WhatsApp, and we'll tell you which route fits.
How do you get a Vietnam work permit, step by step?
The employer gets the permit first, then you get the work visa, and then usually a residence card. The order matters, because the work visa is based on the permit or exemption.
- Check eligibility. Confirm your job fits one of the four roles, or an exemption case.
- Collect your documents. Get your degree, experience letters and criminal record check, then legalise and translate them.
- Employer files the application. It goes to the provincial public administration service centre, 10–60 days before your start date. Filing can be in person, by public post, online or through an authorised service provider.
- Authority decides. It has 10 working days from a complete file. A refusal must be in writing, with reasons, within 3 working days.
- Sign the labour contract. For directly hired staff, the written contract must be signed before your start date.
- Get the LĐ visa. Your employer sponsors an LĐ2 visa (or LĐ1 if you're exempt) through immigration.
- Apply for a TRC. For longer jobs, your employer can apply for a temporary residence card, as explained in our Vietnam TRC guide.
Some provinces have moved parts of this online. Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Home Affairs, for example, announced in May 2026 that it would issue results for work permit and exemption applications electronically from June 15, 2026. Ask your employer how your province handles it.
How long does it take and how long is it valid?
The official decision time is 10 working days, and a permit lasts up to 2 years. The clock starts only when the file is complete. In practice, the full process, including legalising documents abroad, often takes one to two months.
| Step | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Filing a new permit or exemption | No more than 60, no less than 10 days before the start date |
| Decision on a work permit | 10 working days from a complete file |
| Decision on an exemption confirmation | 5 working days from a complete file |
| Maximum validity | 2 years, or shorter if the contract or assignment is shorter |
| Filing an extension | No less than 10 and no more than 45 days before expiry |
| Number of extensions | Only one, for up to 2 years |
After the one extension, your employer needs to apply for a new permit if you stay in the job. A 1-year contract normally gets a 1-year permit.
Tip: get the timeline in writing. Ask your employer for the permit and visa timeline in writing before you resign from your current job. Mark the extension window, 45 to 10 days before expiry, in your calendar the day you receive the permit. Missing it means starting a brand-new application.
Can you work in Vietnam on an e-visa?
No. An e-visa lets you visit, but it doesn't authorise work, even remote work for a Vietnamese company. Working without a permit or exemption is an offence, whatever visa you hold.
The immigration law does allow someone who entered on an e-visa and then obtained a work permit or exemption to be considered for a new visa matching the new purpose. However, in 2026 advisers reported that Ho Chi Minh City wants e-visa entrants to convert to an LĐ visa before a residence card is issued, which can add about two weeks. If your permit is already approved, entering directly on an LĐ visa is usually smoother. Our Vietnam visa types and codes guide explains LĐ1, LĐ2 and DN visas.
| Activity | E-visa (tourist) | DN business visa | LĐ visa with permit or exemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meetings, site visits, trade fairs | Short visits only | Yes | Yes |
| Paid job with a Vietnamese employer | No | No | Yes |
| Interviewing for a job | Usually fine | Yes | Not needed |
| Teaching at a language centre | No | No | Yes |
| Leads to a TRC | No | No | Yes, through the employer |
Remote workers paid from abroad are in a different position, which our Vietnam digital nomad visa guide covers.
What are the fines for working without a permit?
A foreign worker faces a fine of VND 15–25 million and can be deported. These amounts come from Article 13 of Decree 283/2026/ND-CP, which took effect on September 10, 2026 and replaced Decree 12/2022. The same fine applies if you keep working on an expired permit or exemption.
| Violation | Who is fined | Fine (individual rate) |
|---|---|---|
| Working without a permit or exemption, or on an expired one | Foreign worker | VND 15–25 million, plus possible deportation |
| Employing 1–10 foreigners without a permit or exemption | Employer | VND 30–45 million |
| Employing 11–20 foreigners without one | Employer | VND 45–60 million |
| Employing 21 or more foreigners without one | Employer | VND 60–75 million |
| Using a foreigner in a job different from the permit | Employer | VND 5–10 million per worker, up to VND 75 million |
| Not notifying for a notification-only exemption | Employer | VND 1–3 million |
Under Article 7 of the same decree, companies and other organisations pay double the individual rate. Working in a different role or province from the one on your permit is also a violation, so tell your employer before your job changes.
Coming to Vietnam for a job interview or a short business trip first? A standard Vietnam e-visa costs USD 50 through our service (4–6 working days). If you fly sooner, our urgent service can get an approved e-visa in as little as 30–60 minutes during working hours. Remember that an e-visa doesn't allow paid work. Once your work permit is approved, your employer should sponsor the LĐ visa. See the Vietnam e-visa guide.
What no agency can honestly promise
No agency can guarantee a work permit, because the provincial authority decides on your employer's file. No agency can legally get you a permit without a real employer and a real job either. Be careful of anyone selling a "work permit" without a sponsor, or one for a job title you don't actually do. What we can do is explain the rules, help with your entry visa, and tell you honestly when your plan won't work.
Related guides: Vietnam temporary residence card (TRC) · Vietnam visa types and codes · Vietnam business visa cost · Vietnam digital nomad visa · Vietnam passport validity rules
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Vietnam work permit take?
The official decision time is 10 working days from a complete file. Collecting and legalising documents abroad often adds several weeks, so plan for one to two months in total.
How long is a Vietnam work permit valid?
Up to 2 years, or shorter if your contract or assignment is shorter. It can be extended once, for up to 2 more years.
Can I apply for a Vietnam work permit myself?
No. Your employer, or the organisation sending you, files the application with the provincial authority.
Do I need a work permit for a short assignment?
Managers, executives, experts and technical workers working under 90 days in a calendar year are exempt. Their employer must still notify the authority at least 3 working days before they start.
What is the difference between LĐ1 and LĐ2 visas?
LĐ1 is for foreigners exempt from a work permit, and LĐ2 is for those who hold one. Both need a sponsoring employer.
Do I need a work permit if I'm married to a Vietnamese citizen?
A foreigner married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam is exempt, but the employer must still notify the authority before you start. You also need a valid visa or residence card, usually TT.
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